Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast
An ad free resource for restaurateurs! Over 100 episodes and a new episode every Monday. Listen in to learn from industry leaders how to grow your restaurant, improve your guest experience, turn your customers from strangers to friends, and to leverage data and marketing tools to increase your revenue.
Episodes
344 episodes
The South Block Story with Amir Mostafavi
In this episode of Give an Ovation, Zack welcomes Amir Mostafavi, the Founder and CEO of South Block, a mission-driven smoothie and juice bar brand based in the DC area. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Amir shares his...
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20:26
Innovative Concepts and Flavors with Abney Harper
In this episode of Give an Ovation, we’re joined by Abney Harper, CEO and Founder of Prima Après, a unique fast-casual concept combining fresh pasta and pavlovas with a focus on thoughtful design, quality ingredients, and heartfelt hos...
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20:24
Empowering Teams, Perfecting Chicken with Jason & Etkin
In this episode of Give an Ovation, we’re joined by Jason Sobocinski and Etkin Tekin, the co-founders of Haven Hot Chicken, who are on a mission to redefine the fast-casual dining space. From their roots as winners of the Perfect Pitch...
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21:42
Craft, Culture, and Guest Connection with Rick Malir
In this episode of Give an Ovation, Rick Malir, founder of City Barbeque, shares his journey from selling John Deere tractors to building a nationally recognized barbecue brand. With 25 years in the business and 75 locations, Ri...
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19:57
From Family Legacy to Franchise with Austin Titus
In this episode of Give an Ovation, we welcome Austin Titus, president of Cannoli Kitchen Pizza and a seasoned expert in the franchise industry. Growing up in a family of franchise entrepreneurs, Austin has developed a unique eye for brands tha...
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15:53
Creating a Culture that Rocks with Jim Knight
In this episode of Give an Ovation, we welcome Jim Knight, a former executive at Hard Rock Cafe who has transformed his experiences into a dynamic career as a speaker and author. Known for his engaging style, Jim blends the charisma of G...
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21:31
Inside the Digital Kitchen Revolution with Markus Pineyro
Markus Pineyro is not just a restaurant owner—he’s a visionary reshaping how we think about dining experiences. As the co-founder of OOMI Digital Kitchen, Markus has created a food hall that operates almost entirely through digital interactions...
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19:12
From Deli Dreams to Salad Empires with Joey Cioffi
Joey Cioffi is the founder and CEO of The Salad House, a fast-growing franchise with a passion for offering customizable, fresh meals for everyone. From his New Jersey roots to building a brand that’s now expanding to 19 locations, Joey has alw...
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Episode 335
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17:14
Empowering Franchisees and Employees with Doug Willmarth
Few people understand the art of blending people and technology in fast-casual dining like today’s guest, Doug Willmarth. As the President of MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes and a seasoned leader with experience at brands like Mongolian Conc...
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Episode 334
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19:55
Personalization in Hospitality Revealed with Sherif Mityas
You could argue that there’s no one more passionate about building successful restaurant brands than today's guest, Sherif Mityas. Sherif is the CEO of BRIX Holdings, overseeing iconic brands like Friendly’s, Clean Juice, and Red Mango. We were...
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Episode 333
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15:48
Simplifying Restaurant Tech with Neal Parisawan
Neal Parisawan is the owner of Nara Thai and a former consultant, bringing a unique perspective to how tech can enhance guest experiences rather than complicate operations. We were thrilled to hear his insights on this episode!In this ep...
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Episode 332
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17:22
Humility, Speed, and Personalization with Blaze Pizza CEO Beto Guajardo
You could argue that there's no one more experienced in leading fast-casual restaurants than today's guest, Beto Guajardo. Beto is the President & CEO of Blaze Pizza and has held leadership roles at Starbucks, Levi Strauss, and Schlotzsky’s...
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Episode 331
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17:52
An Unreasonably Good Episode with Will Guidara
You could argue that there's no one on the planet who has thought about hospitality more than today's guest, Will Guidara. Will is a restaurant icon, former leader of Eleven Madison Park, and NYT Bestselling Author of "Unreasonable Hospitality"...
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Episode 330
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19:45
Mastering Restaurant Grand Openings with Richmond Green
Want to unlock the secrets behind a seamless restaurant grand opening? Richmond Green, VP of Operations at gusto!, joins us to share his invaluable insights from his extensive experience, including his tenure at Chick-fil-A. Discover why he com...
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Episode 332
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20:11
Boosting Guest Experience and Sales: Strategies from Toast’s CMO Kelly Esten
In today’s competitive restaurant landscape, having the right tools can make or break your guest experience. On this episode of Give an Ovation, Zack Oates talks to Kelly Esten, CMO of Toast, about the journey behind one of the industr...
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Episode 324
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21:39
Mastering Iconic Restaurant Experiences: Chef Glenn Rolnick on Carmine's and Virgil's Success
Ever wondered what it takes to run iconic restaurants in some of the most bustling locations in the world? Join us as we sit down with Chef Glenn Rolnick, the mastermind behind the culinary operations of Carmine's and Virgil's. With over two de...
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Episode 333
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21:05
How to Win the Restaurant Game: Insights from Peter Romeo
In the world of hospitality, few voices are as respected and influential as Peter Romeo's. With nearly 40 years of experience covering the restaurant industry, Peter has seen the rise and fall of countless concepts and the evolution of guest ex...
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Episode 329
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22:39
Easy, Breezy Guest Experiences with Melissa Cummings of Tropical Smoothie Cafe
In today’s episode of Give an Ovation, we have the pleasure of chatting with Melissa Cummings, VP of Digital Marketing at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, including a significant role...
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Episode 331
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25:01
How Original ChopShop Keeps Guests Coming Back with Jason Morgan
In this episode of Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast, host Zack Oates sits down with Jason Morgan, CEO of Original ChopShop, a rapidly expanding fast-casual restaurant known for its "better-for-you" menu. Jason s...
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Episode 328
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17:06
Sucré's Secret Sauce with James Vitrano
Creating an exceptional guest experience goes beyond just serving great food—it’s about making every interaction meaningful. On this episode of "Give an Ovation," Zack Oates chats with James Vitrano, co-owner of Sucre, who shares his journey fr...
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Episode 327
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17:01
Empowering Women in Restaurants and Business with Dawn Lafreeda of Denny's
In this episode of Give an Ovation, host Zack Oates sits down with Dawn Lafreeda, one of the most inspiring entrepreneurs and restaurant leaders in the industry. From starting as a server at Denny’s at 16 years old to becoming the larg...
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Episode 326
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22:49
The Sixth Love Language (Food) with Christian Lee
Flame Broiler isn’t just a restaurant; it's a thriving brand with deep roots in Korean cuisine and a strong commitment to guest experience. In this episode of Give an Ovation, we sit down with Christian Lee, the second-generation leade...
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Episode 325
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18:42
Location, Location, Location, with Brandy Blackwell of Another Broken Egg Cafe
Curious about the secret sauce behind scaling a successful restaurant brand? Get ready to learn from Brandy Blackwell, VP Head of Marketing for Another Broken Egg Cafe, as she shares her journey from key roles at Tijuana Flats, McAlister's Deli...
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Episode 323
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17:48
From Farmer to Restaurateur: Scott Henderson's Salad Station Success Story
In this episode of Give an Ovation, host Zack Oates talks to Scott Henderson, CEO and co-founder of Salad Station. Scott shares how his agricultural roots in South Louisiana inspired him to create a fast, healthy restaurant concept tha...
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Episode 322
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19:26
From Lost to Loyal: Winning Back Your Customers with Dan Pfister of Winback Labs
Unlock the secrets to rekindling lost customer relationships with expert insights from Dan Pfister, Founder of WinBack Labs. Discover proven strategies for understanding why customers leave and how to effectively bring them back. Dan highlights...
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Episode 321
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16:58
